The Riverside County district attorney’s office disputes an accountant’s sworn declaration that he was ordered to change a budget analysis to show the office had a surplus and could hire more people, according to court papers filed this week.

The new declarations from outgoing District Attorney Rod Pacheco’s office contend that the accountant, Eric Woolery, was pressured into making a statement that he altered his work to change a $4 million deficit into a $2 million surplus.

RIALTO – This city has had its fair share of controversy over the years, and 2010 was no different, with concerns over the size of public pensions, opposition to a new residential development and an alleged sex scandal that led to two city police officers leaving the force.

Right out of the gate, officials warned that sweetened pensions kicking in this month could place the city’s finances in peril.

The nation’s unemployment edged up to 9.8 percent last month, even though companies are performing well – all but 4 percent of the top 500 corporations reported profits this year, and the stock market is close to its highest point since the 2008 financial meltdown.

His plan will confront both parties, with calls for tax extensions and deep program cuts.

Gov.-elect Jerry Brown, left, shown with state Controller John Chiang, will enter office with California facing a $28-billion budget shortfall. His plan is expected to rankle both sides of the aisle. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times / December 14, 2010)

By Shane Goldmacher, Los Angeles Times December 29, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento

Gov.-elect Jerry Brown is laying the groundwork for a budget plan that would couple deep cuts to state services, including university systems and welfare programs, with a request that voters extend temporary tax hikes on vehicles, income and sales that are set to expire next year.

The state controller called Mayer Hoffman McCann’s examination of the troubled city’s finance a ‘rubber stamp.’ The firm has about 150 municipal clients nationwide.

By Jeff Gottlieb and Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times December 29, 2010

A week after a report by the state controller labeled the independent audits of Bell a “rubber stamp,” several cities are questioning their relationship with the well-known accounting firm responsible for the work.